V-22s Now to Sail to Combat

By James T. McKenna | August 10, 2007

U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Ospreys will head for combat in Iraq shortly, but not by air. Corps officials earlier this year had said Marine Medium Tilt-rotor Sqdn. 263 (VMM-263) would self-deploy to Iraq next month. But the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports today that the Marines now want the first 10 combat Bell Helicopter/Boeing Ospreys to go east on board the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp. Marine superiors felt that would be "cheaper and easier" than flying. It also averts the need for aerial refueling. For related news